"The truth is, I no longer enjoy blogging and I think that this has been evident for a few months now to my readers," the 48-year-old Tory wrote on his blog. "I hate the backbiting that goes along with it. I hate the character assassination that is permanently present."

Over the past five years Dale, through Ian Dale's Diary, and fellow rightwing commentator Paul Staines – with his Guido Fawkes website – have played a key role in putting political blogging on the map in the UK.

Staines today paid tribute to Dale, saying the pair started out as competitors but became allies and friends. "Iain has had an awful time from some parts of the blogosphere, yet he has done more to popularise blogging than any other blogger in Britain," he added.

Dale said his decision has "nothing to do with the Conservatives being in power", adding that it was a "myth" that blogging in government was less interesting that in opposition.

Although the five-year-old blog, Iain Dale's Diary, is intended as a "personal plaything", Dale said it now has a "negative effect on various aspects of my business and broadcasting life".

"Yesterday I felt, for various reasons, I had to slightly caveat what I really wanted to say about Tom Baldwin's appointment," the former Westminster lobbyist explained. "Another post in the last few days has caused an unfortunate situation too with a potential advertising client."

Dale fulfilled what he called a "lifetime ambition" when he began fronting the weekday evening show on London radio LBC in September. But this and the time he spends publishing Total Politics magazine have restricted his opportunities for blogging. "Something has to give," he said.

He gave up any prospect of standing for the Conservative party earlier this year, saying he was unlikely to get selected in a country "becoming youth obsessed".

He stood as a candidate for Norfolk North in 2005, becoming the first openly gay candidate selected by the Conservative party. "I am, and will remain, a Conservative supporter, but that's as far as it goes," he said today.

A new personal website will replace Iain Dale's Diary in the new year, and until then his posts will be "few and far between".

He added: "To the many enemies I have made along the way, I'll just say in a very Nixon-esque manner, just rejoice in the fact that you won't have me to kick around any longer. For the moment, anyway."

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